as top romney advisers looked on, studying not only romney's answers, but his body language. romney joking portman playing the president so well. >> he's playing barack obama in these mock debates we have. i don't like him very much anymore. >> reporter: governor romney reportedly studying president obama's past debates. the nabc news poll shows 56% of voters expect the president to win the debates. only 29% believe romney will win. which, offers romney a real opportunity to exceed expectations. republican chris christie, predicting just that. >> you're going to be shaking your head, saying it's a brand new race. >> reporter: running mate paul ryan today, hanging success in these final 36 days on the debates. >> the debate and choice phase, the debate phase in our campaign. we will make this case in our debates. >> reporter: and tonight, a hint of what we're he'll on the stage here in denver. we heard repeatedly from them, we cannot afford another four years like the last four. we can expect to hear that. and they say with the numbers where they are in the battleground states